The following is a collection of local reaction from leaders in Maryland.

In a tweet, the president said, "Today's DOMA ruling is a historic step forward for #MarriageEquality."

Statement from the White House:

I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it. We are a people who declared that we are all created equal -- and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.

This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents' marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better.

So we welcome today's decision, and I've directed the Attorney General to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for Federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.

On an issue as sensitive as this, knowing that Americans hold a wide range of views based on deeply held beliefs, maintaining our nation's commitment to religious freedom is also vital. How religious institutions define and consecrate marriage has always been up to those institutions. Nothing about this decision -- which applies only to civil marriages -- changes that.

The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.

Gov. Martin O'Malley:

"Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional as applied to states that recognize equal marriage rights.

"This ruling is a powerful step forward for those who live in states like Maryland. But the Court's decisions make clear that there is still more work to do as a nation to achieve greater respect for the equal rights and human dignity of all.

"As Marylanders, and as Americans, we ultimately all want the same thing for our children: to live in a loving, stable, committed home protected equally under the law."

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown:

On Defense of Marriage Act: "Today the Supreme Court stood on the right side of history by advancing the cause of equality and justice for all Americans. By first passing and then upholding marriage equality on the ballot, Marylanders should be proud of the important role we played together in the fight for equal rights. While the path to justice and equality is often long and challenging, today we took a major step ahead."

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler:

"Today, by declaring Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has moved our nation one step closer to fulfilling the Constitution's promise of equal protection of the law. The battle for full marriage equality in this country is not yet over, as today's Proposition 8 decision does not settle the question of whether states can discriminate against same-sex marriages. But with today's DOMA decision, a central source of same-sex marriage discrimination has been removed.

"For too long, same-sex married couples have been given second-class status by state laws and federal laws like DOMA, denying them the full equal protection of the laws that our Constitution promises. Many of us have been fighting against these unjust laws for years. When same-sex marriage was still illegal in Maryland, I worked to give same-sex married couples legally wed in other states the full measure of equality our legally married couples enjoyed. That push for equality led to calls for my impeachment, but I knew it was the right -- and constitutional -- thing to do. That’s why I also strongly supported our state’s later successful efforts to enact marriage equality, testifying in support of it before any other statewide elected official. And when DOMA and Proposition 8 were challenged at the Supreme Court, I did not hesitate to join fellow state Attorneys General in filing a brief calling for them to be struck down. Today is a historic moment in civil rights history, with Supreme Court decisions striking down Section 3 of DOMA as unconstitutional and dismissing the Proposition 8 appeal, letting stand a district court opinion declaring that law unconstitutional and paving the way for marriage equality in California. Now we must work together to write the next chapter -- achieving marriage equality in all 50 states."

Baltimore Archbishop William Lori:

"The Supreme Court's decisions to overturn Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act are the latest in a troubling trend of decisions by lawmakers, judges, and some voters which ignores the fundamental truth about marriage: it is the most valued, most important social unit in our society and as such is deserving of the protection and special recognition societies have afforded it throughout human history. Today's decisions will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences, most especially for children, and are another serious blow to the institution of marriage.

"Sadly, the Courts have chosen to follow at a time when our Nation most needs strong leaders -- leaders who wish to promote strong families instead of dismantling them. In a society such as ours, the Catholic Church may indeed be counter-cultural in its defense and promotion of a family built on the foundation of a healthy marriage between a man and a woman. Our consistent teaching on marriage is reflective of our respect for the dignity of the human person and the belief that children have the best chance to succeed when raised by both a father and a mother.

"Today's decisions will also undoubtedly contribute to concerted efforts not just to redefine marriage but to dismantle it, efforts which represent a serious threat to religious liberty and conscience rights for countless people of faith. This threat to religious freedom is one of many, locally and nationally, that has prompted our current Fortnight for Freedom, which we hope will inspire people throughout the country to prayer, education, and action to preserve religious liberty."

Maryland Family Alliance:

Across the nation the definition of marriage has been the subject of passionate debate. Today’s decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court do not settle the issue for people who strongly believe that marriage should not be redefined. It is a union between one man and one woman.

When Californians went to the polls to express their support of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, they did so because they understood the important role that both fathers and mothers play in the life of a child. MFA rejects any decision that gives an activist court the right to redefine marriage when the people have spoken. The activist court's decision to redefine marriage came even when the state of California had the most comprehensive and inclusive civil unions laws in the country. Homosexual couples were afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. Californian’s rejected the courts decision because they understand that it is possible to respect the rights of all people without redefining marriage.

In the same way that we believe states should have the right to set policies pertaining to marriage within their boarders, MFA believes that the federal government i.e. the U.S. Congress has the constitutional authority to set marriage policy for federal purposes. Dismantling DOMA, which was passed by overwhelming majorities and signed into law by President Bill Clinton takes a structural blow to the U.S. Constitution and the most fundamental unit of humankind, the family.

In Maryland over 1.2 million voters declared their support for marriage as a union between one man and one woman. These Marylanders and countless others across the state understand the unique and distinct value that comes from a father and a mother. Regardless of what legislative and judicial bodies decide, it is the express goal of the Maryland Family Alliance to move our state forward by building strong families that would allow all children to know the love and security of being raised in a healthy home by a mother and father.

Maryland Democratic Party Chairwoman Yvette Lewis:

"Today's Supreme Court decisions on the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 are historic rulings on the side of equality and progress. Ensuring equal protection under the law for all Americans is a fundamental value of our free society and as of today our LGBT brothers and sisters will be able to enjoy the rights and protections they have been denied. The Maryland law guaranteeing marriage equality will now be accorded full respect under federal law as will married couples, no matter who they love.

"While today's ruling is a step toward a more equal and just America, our work is not done. The Maryland Democratic Party will continue its efforts to expand equality and civil rights to all Americans."

AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, WBAL- TV 11 NEWS. BACK HERE IN MARYLAND, SUPPORTERS OF SAM'S-SEX MARRIAGE ARE REJOICING OVER NEWS OF THE DECISION. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THEIR LENDERS AND CONTINUES COVERED FROM NORTHWEST BALTIMORE. TO THE PARTY BEGINS AT ABOUT AN HOUR. IT IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY ACROSS MARYLAND. I WAS THRILLED AND RELIEVED. THAT WAS J.B. HANSON'S REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT DOMA DECISION THAT NOW GIVES HIM AND HIS SPOUSE THE BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE AND MUCH MORE. THERE IS ALWAYS THE FEELING THAT YOU ARE NOT QUITE A FULL- FLEDGED CITIZENS BECAUSE A LITTLE DARK PART OF IGNORANCE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE. NOW IT HAS CHANGED. SEEMED BEST SEX COUPLES AND RECOGNIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE STATE IS ONE OF 12 TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE SO COUPLES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS RELATED TO SOCIAL SECURITY, PENSIONS AND THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE. HANSON AND FALK HAVE BEEN A RELATIONSHIP FOR 47 YEARS. THEY HAVE DREW UP A WILL YEARS AGO JUST IN CASE. TO MAKE SURE WHOEVER DIES FIRST, THE OTHER HAS THE HOUSE WITHOUT ANY LEGAL WRANGLING GOING ON. SO THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HELP COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN TOGETHER. TODAY'S RULING RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE EMPLOYERS WILL DO ABOUT DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS FOR GAY COUPLES WHO MAY NOT WANT TO GET MARRIED NOW THAT FEDERAL BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MARRIED COUPLES. I AM LOOKING INTO THAT. MEANWHILE, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BALTIMORE CALLS THE DECISION A TROUBLING TREND IN SERIOUS BLOW TO THE INSTITUTION OF MARYLAND -- A MARRIAGE, SAYING CONSISTENT TEACHING ON MARRIAGE IS REFLECTIVE OF RESPECT THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND BELIEF THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED WHEN RACE BY A FATHER AND MOTHER. COMING UP TO 6:00, WE WILL TALK TO A MAN WHOSE IMMIGRATION STATUS MAY CHANGE BECAUSE OF TODAY'S RULING. FOR NOW AT HARVARD EAST, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS. TEAM COVERAGE CONTINUES ONLINE. YOU CAN SEE THE MERIT CASE EXPLAINED IN GREATER DETAIL AND